Forsberg Fires Sweden Into Last-8

SAINT PETERSBURG, RUSSIA - JULY 03: Emil Forsberg of Sweden celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's first goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Round of 16 match between Sweden and Switzerland at Saint Petersburg Stadium on July 3, 2018 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

The majority of the game’s chances fell to Janne Andersson’s men with Marcus Berg slicing a volley wide after getting in behind the Swiss defence on eight minutes, and another chance went begging less than 60 seconds later when Yann Sommer hashed his goal kick and Berg’s effort was blocked before landing to Albin Ekdal who couldn’t keep is effort under control, volleying over from 20-yards out.

Valon Behrami then blazed over the bar for Switzerland after linking up well with Steven Zuber.

2 – Sweden have won back-to-back World Cup matches for the first time since 1958, when they won the quarter-final and semi-final on their way to the final as host nation that year. Rising. #SWESUI#SWE#WorldCuppic.twitter.com/tAWajEqBDE

The best chance of the opening 45 minutes fell to Ekdal who failed to keep his shot down once again, this time from only 6-yards out when left all alone at the far post after a perfectly weighted Mikael Lustig cross.

Forsberg had been the best player on the pitch and after a driving run inside from the left wing, the RB Leipzig man hit a shot that deflected past Sommer to finally make the breakthrough for the Swedes.

Emil Forsberg’s goal against Switzerland was his 14th shot of the World Cup; no player had had more without scoring in the 2018 tournament.

If people were unsure whether Forsberg was going to be the hero, then the 26-year-old confirmed it when keeping his team in it after a goal-line clearance with just minutes remaining.

An injury time header from Haris Seferović was saved smartly by Robin Olsen and when Michael Lang was sent off with seconds left on the clock, it was in the bag for Sweden who will play in the Quarter-finals.

An Englishman that is a coach and analyst within the youth academy of a Spanish club whilst studying Sports Coaching.
Obsessive over the tactical concepts of the European game, Alex regularly attends games in the La Liga, Bundesliga and Serie A.